KN Simon
As opposed to impartially providing information, propaganda, in its most basic sense, presents information primarily to influence and persuade an audience. Propaganda often presents facts selectively (thus possibly lying by omission) to encourage a particular synthesis, or uses loaded messages to produce an emotional rather than rational response to the information presented. The desired result is a change of the attitude toward the subject in the target audience to further a political, religious or social agenda. Propaganda can be used as a form of ideological warfare…and can refer to generally benign or innocuous uses, such as public health recommendations, signs encouraging citizens to participate in a census or election, or messages encouraging persons to report crimes to law enforcement, among others.
Your assignment is to find one example of what you might consider contemporary (21st century) published or shared propaganda. This may be single advertisements, posters, websites, tweets, or a complete campaign. In general, you should look beyond commercial advertisement (consumerism), and towards public service announcements or any more direct visual communication for a cause or ideology: a movement, a belief, a political position, a conflict, etc. However, while technically different, commercial advertising can often blur the line between selling a product or service and selling a particular social point of view, and could be considered for this assignment (see notes on advertising vs. propaganda in the supplemental Propaganda_guide2.pdf, attached). Students may not use any images found through simple internet searches of “propaganda” as your selection. You should try to find and/or photograph your choice in the real world somewhere, in the city, on the subways, in your daily experience, or one you remember seeing. This may include social media campaigns or ads/images you see on web browsers, however online choices should be well researched. This means clicking on any pop-up ad, and/or researching the secondary information in the ad that identifies who produced the ad/image.
*Specific focus should be placed on addressing the common persuasion tactics used in advertising and propaganda. You must identify which specific common persuasion techniques are being used in your choice, illustrated and defined in the supplemental Propaganda_guide, attached with this assignment on Blackboard. There will most likely be more than one tactic used. Students may not use the examples given in the guide as their choice for this assignment.
Assignment Instructions :
1. Read the supplemental Propaganda_guide (.pdf attached file on Blackboard) fully
2. Choose an example of published propaganda.
3. Write an essay (min. 500 words, 10-11pt/single spaced.) describing your choice, and why you have chosen it. Images of your choice must be included with the essay. Include a functional link or file if you choose a video clip.
In your essay, answer these questions:
· Identify the common persuasion tactics used (listed in the supplemental Propaganda_guide.pdf
· Identify and evaluate the voice/tone being used to communicate the message, i.e. the expression or affectation behind the words/images. That “voice”, or tone, becomes particularly apparent in printed propaganda and public service announcements. Paternal, maternal, omniscient, patronizing, rallying, desperate, sympathetic, angry, forceful…but above all, persuasive .
· What elements of the communication are stressed and why?
· Identify what specifically is being communicated (the underlying message), and the target demographic/audience.
· What kind of language does the “voice” use to address that specific audience? Is the message presented by a particular person, personality, or charachter? If so, who? How does the speaker persuade you, the viewer? How does the work make you feel?
4. Submit essay (with image included) into Blackboard. Click underlined title for submission.
Grade assessment: 50% Essay/Choice / 50% Specific questions/assignment parameters (voice/tone, persuasion tactics, etc.).
Learning objectives: Be able to remember and recognize the specific persuasion tactics used in propaganda in designed communication. Be able to recognize the specific “voice” behind designed communication, and how these things affect us.
This assignment will count 10% towards your final grade.
As with all assignments, students are encouraged to submit work as soon as possible, allowing for assignments to be graded, returned, and potentially revised for a higher grade/points if necessary, within the timeframe of the semester. Students will have as many opportunities as they need to revise their work after submission and initial grading, time permitting.
propaganda_guide.pdf
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